India’s Mars Orbiter nearing the Red Planet

Chennai: India’s Mars Orbiter spacecraft that left the Earth last November is nearing the Red planet with all its payloads in good condition, ISRO said Tuesday.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India’s Mars Orbiter or Mangalyaan has travelled over 540 million km on its journey to the Red planet. The Indian space agency said the Mars Orbiter has completed nearly 80 percent of its journey and is expected to enter the Mars orbit Sep 24.

Of the total Rs.450 crore budget on the project, India has spent Rs.349 crore on its Mars Orbiter Mission as on March 31, 2014.